Meanings
- rareuncountableA paraphilia involving sexual arousal from staging and watching disasters, such as traffic collisions.
One of the strangest sexual problems occurs with symphorophilia.
2006, Linda Edelstein, Writer's Guide to Character Traits, page 1683 more examples
The phylism to which biastophilia and symphorophilia become attached is probably the ungovernable rage of an infantile temper tantrum. The victims of the catastrophe are, like hostages, stand-ins for the original enemy.
1986, John Money, Lovemaps, page 92Autoassassinophilia (arousal from putting oneself in a position to be killed) and symphorophilia (arousal by accidents or catastrophes) are paraphilias of the sacrificial type.
2008, Anil Aggrawal, Forensic and Medico-legal Aspects of Sexual Crimes and Unusual Sexual Practices, page 17"What's he need?" Alan asks. "Car crashes?" "It's called symphorophilia, dear," Callie says. "Someone who is sexually aroused by accidents or catastrophes."
2010, Cody McFadyen, Abandoned
Origin
Coined by sexologist John Money.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
symphorophilia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/symphorophilia
“symphorophilia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/symphorophilia. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “symphorophilia,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/symphorophilia.
Source: symphorophilia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.